The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-07
AFFAIRS At THE CAPITAL
COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE
TREASURY FOR REFUSING
To Furnish Small Notes TO the Citi-
zens In Change for Larger
Ones.
PETITIONS RECEIVED BY THE IN.
TERSTATE COMMISSION
From Different Railroads. Cleveland
the Peoples CaAdidate-Talk
About o Second Term.
lsPHmAL TO rHn APPHAL.I

WASHINGTON, April 6-Thefe u
complaint among the business mer
and citizens generally Of Washington
over the refusal OF the Treasury Il
furnish small notes in exchange fol
those OF large denominations. Fol
months it has not been possible for 1
citizen to get 81 and 81 Treasury
notes or silver certificates at the coun
ter OF the Treasury. For many year
the cashroom OF the Treasury hal
been used az convenience by the
citizens OF Washington in the matter
OF exchanging money OF large fol
that OF a small denomination. AL
classes Of people have gone there tc
get fractional silver and small notei
for those Of a large denomination, and
the banks have had few calls fol
change, as at the Treasury new money
was almost invariably given out, whilt
the banks handled money in all con
ditions. Now the people feel some
indignation because they canno
get any kind OF small money
and are asking why 1t Is. Al
the flee OF the Treasurer 1t Is sald
that the demands of the banks and
subtreasuries for 81 and So bills Is 81
heavy that they cannot be given out
over the counter OF the cashroom. A
merchant In commenting upon the
condition OF affairs said today; "The
Treasury discriminates against the
common people In favor OF the banks.
In some parts OF the country per
cent. is charged for changing large
bills into small ones. All bankers
turn the exchange to their advantage
in the way OF making friends, and 80
the cashroom OF the Treasury, which
is kept open for the common people,
lie practically closed. This is direct
discrimination, and the people OF
Washington have Just cause to be in
dignant.
SENATOR cocKRKLL's INVESTIGATING
COMMITTEE
is making things very lively for the
officials and clerks in some Of the de-
pariments. The committee is inquir.
ing into the procedures Of the forces
in the various departments, how work
is done and the forces employed, etc,
and in some instances dozen or more
employees have been at work for weeks
preparing answers to inquiries Of the
committee.
II is believed by the officials that
some good may follow this invsstiga-
ton. A report will be made which
will encompass the entire machinery
Of the executive department., aud
recommendations for changes can be
made with readiness. There are heads
OF some departments who have little,
il any, conception OF the real working
operation OF some Of the divisions or
bureaus under them, but 1t must be
stated that these cases under this adj
ministration are few and far between.
GROSS INJUsTIcRs ARE SOMETIMES DONE
aliens by the passage OF statutory laws
conflicting with the provisions OF ex-
isting treaties. Foreigners pay little
attention TO the statutory laws. They
40 ahead and do business under treat
les, because treaties are seldom altered
during their natural lifetime, while
laws are being enacted constantly.
Foreigners expect the Executive to
protect them, which is guaranteed by
treaties, while under the statutes only
the courts have redress. The differ
ence between the execution OF treaty
and a statutory provision is that in
the former instance the Executive dis.
penses the law, while in the latter the
courts do 1t.
An effort WAS made during the clos
ing hours Of the last Congress to pass
q law which referred to the CourG OF
Claims the claims Of aliens growing
ont oflincopgruities or disparities be-
tween treaty provisions and statutory
laws. II failed in a mysterious mau-
ner and for reasons which none re-
sponsible will explain. For instance,
there were commercial treaties made
with certain countries many years
20 which are in full force, and which
guaranteed TO those countries all the
advantages granted TO other nations
in the form of commercial matters or
immigration protection, Subsequent
" statutory lava have been enacted
discriminating In favor Of other couu-
tries in these same matters. The
President, however, recommended to
Congress the enactment OF a law
which gave the injured persons re-
dress in the Court OF Claims. The bill
passed both branches OF Congress, but
was amended in one branch In such a
manner that a conference committee
was necessary. The Conference Com
miitee, for some unknown reason,
struck uui tue clause which gave tho
bill effect AS no one seemed 20 OBJ
ject o this clause, II was recommended
mcst urgently by the President in De.
parlment OF State, there Is something
wrong, and some unpleasant develop
ments are promised. Some personal
feeling WAS evidently given play. II
seems that very little attention has
been paid to treaties when laws have
BEEN proposed in Congress. The
Tine treaties have been lost sight Of,
and conflicting laws have been en-
acted. Foreign merchants and gov
ernments, not knowing OF the enact.
men. of these conflicting laws, have
Y lAAluutu w uO ullN0l NIt
treaty stipulatons, only to wake up,
years atterward, when they come to
collect their accounts, TO find that the
treaty was aoIogated, practically, by q
law enacted by Congress, although
there was no authority for II, and then
waen appealed to for an opportunity
TO get redress in our own courts Con-
gress turns deaf ear.
CLEVELAND THE PEOPLES MAN.
la answer to q question put by a
New York Herald correspondent Pree-
ident Cleveland Is reported as saying
"a railroad C. operation should have
tie legal riRhts-no more, no less. But
the people should have their rights
also. When real settler-I don't
mean q mere land Hpeculator, but a
man who builds his little home and
SITS about the improvement Of the
acres on which he has settled-when
such a man has legally taken posses-
sion of his 100 sores be ought 10 feel
that the government is behind him
He has right to feel that way, and,
20 far as this administration is cor
esrned, Il is clearly the friend Of the
people. While as a matter Of course
the administration will protect the
lawful rigAts Of corporation 20 well
as those OF the people, still | think 1t